Butterfly Facts

About the butterfly

Butterflies go through complete metamorphosis in four stages. Adults lay eggs on leaves, and the larvae that hatch, called caterpillars, feed on those plants and can grow quickly. A full-grown caterpillar forms a chrysalis. When the change is done, the pupal skin splits open, and the adult climbs out, spreads its wings to dry and flies away. At rest, many butterflies fold their wings together.

Some tropical species fit several generations into a year, while a few in cold places need several years for one life cycle. To dodge predators, many use camouflage, mimicry or warning colors. The monarch and the painted lady travel long distances on migration. Some caterpillars damage crops or trees, some adults pollinate plants, and a few larvae even eat harmful insects or prey on ants.

Did you know?

• Butterfly fossils go back about 56 million years, to the Paleocene.
• Wasps, flies and protozoans are among the parasites that attack butterflies.
• Some butterfly larvae live as partners with ants instead of preying on them.